Found A Tranquility In Cuba

Jan 06, 2015 | 12:00 AM

I traveled to Cuba in September, and saw the most exquisite countryside you could imagine, very undeveloped.

Out in the country, we visited small businesses that were working with machinery dating back to the 1940s. There were buildings in terrible disrepair that broke your heart. Each little hovel of a home had laundry strung out in the yard. This to me became the flag of Cuba. I've never seen so many skinny dogs, cats, cows and horses in my life.

When we were out in the country at an all-inclusive resort, we would ask the young beautiful people if they would like to come to America, and all would say yes but that they couldn't afford it. In the shops in Havana we asked the same thing, but they would pretend that they didn't hear us.

During this trip, I thought it would be wonderful if the U.S. would come here because there would be work for everyone for years just repairing the buildings -- and then I got this horrible feeling that this would also bring a CVS, Dunkin' Donuts, Walmart and so many other chains that would just muck up this beautiful country. Then the Americans would be telling the Cubans how to run their country.

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I am naive here on many levels and know nothing about the politics of Cuba, but I have to say I have never encounted warmer, smiling people, easygoing and gentle. Yes, the young would like things to change and the elders are afraid of the unknown. But there was a tranquility in Cuba that we do not have here in America.